Jennifer Hudson

Aretha Franklin

Forest Whitaker

C. L. Franklin

Marlon Wayans

Ted White

Audra McDonald

Barbara Franklin

Mary J. Blige

Dinah Washington

Marc Maron

Jerry Wexler

Tituss Burgess

Reverend Dr. James Cleveland

Saycon Sengbloh

Erma Franklin

Hailey Kilgore

Carolyn Franklin

Tate Donovan

John Hammond

Skye Dakota Turner

Aretha Franklin (young)

Heather Headley

Clara Ward

Leroy McClain

Cecil Franklin

Lodric D. Collins

Smokey Robinson

Brenda Nicole Moorer

Brenda Franklin

Brandon Gilpin

Teenager

Tangela Large

Grieving Mother

Albert Jones

Ken Cunningham

Myk Watford

Rick Hall

Gilbert Glenn Brown

Martin Luther King Jr.

Kimberly Scott

Mama Franklin

Peyton Jackson

Young Cecil

Nevaeh Moore

Young Carolyn

Victoria Paige Watkins

Teen #2

Christopher Daniel

Edward

Zach Strum

David Hood

Abri

Ted White's Prostitute (uncredited)

Chris Williams

Tyrell/Bellhop (uncredited)